https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/natalia-contreras-votebeat-and-the-texas-tribune/The latest news by Natalia Contreras.enFri, 15 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/15/brazos-county-texas-2024-election-security/Voting went well in the presidential election, but Trudy Hancock and her staff are still fielding questions. And the answers don’t seem to matter.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 15 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/15/brazos-county-texas-2024-election-security/Central county station workers aggregate election results at the Brazos Center in Bryan on Nov. 5, 2024.BRYAN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 5: Central county station workers aggregate election results at the Brazos Center in Bryan, Texas on November 5, 2024. Photo by Montinique Monroe for VotebeatMontinique Monroe for Votebeathttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-voting-2024/A mostly quiet Election Day in Texas came after a series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted.By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 05 Nov 2024 21:51:06 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-voting-2024/People wait in line to vote at the Brazos County Election Administration Office on Election Day in Bryan.People wait in line to vote at the Brazos County Election Administrator Office on Election Day in Bryan on Nov. 5, 2024.Montinique Monroe for Votebeathttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-2024-election-results-counting-process/By state law, Election Day totals must be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close. Meeting that deadline requires careful but quick work.By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 31 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-2024-election-results-counting-process/Voters cast their ballots at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus polling location in Arlington on primary election day, March 5, 2024.Voters cast their ballots at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus polling location in Arlington on primary election day, March 5, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-voter-registration-issues/Some people who filled out forms find out too late that they never made it onto the rolls. State lawmakers have resisted efforts to expand online options.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneMon, 28 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-voter-registration-issues/Hannah Murry, 21, on the campus of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where she is a student.Hannah Murry, 21, on the campus of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where she is a student. (Gabriel Cárdenas for Votebeat)Gabriel Cárdenas for Votebeathttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/texas-election-clerk-assault-san-antonio-trump-hat/The suspect was arrested for assaulting the elderly. The Bexar County sheriff said “nothing” is worth going to jail for.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 25 Oct 2024 16:35:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/texas-election-clerk-assault-san-antonio-trump-hat/An election clerk in San Antonio was allegedly assaulted Thursday, officials said. The suspect was arrested and charged for elderly assault.People wait to vote at the Bexar County Elections Department on Nov. 3, 2020.Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/16/exas-noncitizen-voting-proof-of-citizenship/Gov. Greg Abbott gave an inflated number of noncitizens removed from the state’s voter rolls, officials acknowledged, confirming findings by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, and Votebeat.By James Barragán, The Texas Tribune, Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas Tribune, Vianna Davila, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Jen Fifield, VotebeatWed, 16 Oct 2024 20:19:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/16/exas-noncitizen-voting-proof-of-citizenship/Ken Cuccinelli, a former acting director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and former acting deputy secretary of DHS, speaks at a state Senate hearing at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 16, 2024.Ken Cuccinelli, a former acting director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and former acting deputy secretary of DHS, speaks at a state Senate hearing at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 16, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/16/texas-legislature-voter-rolls-noncitizens/Here’s what you need to know after a ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and Votebeat investigation found that Gov. Greg Abbott likely inflated the number of noncitizens on voter rolls.By Vianna Davila and Lexi Churchill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, James Barragán, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/16/texas-legislature-voter-rolls-noncitizens/Voting signs direct voters outside of the Rolling Fork Castle Club during Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023 in Houston. The castle was built in the late 1970s and has served as a voting location for almost forty years.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/11/texas-election-laws-voter-assistance-ruling/Texas Republicans passed the legislation known as Senate Bill 1 after former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and spread lies about it.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 11 Oct 2024 21:29:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/11/texas-election-laws-voter-assistance-ruling/A device outside the San Marcos Library polling place, allowing for voting assistance for anyone unable to enter the polling place on Nov. 2, 2021.A device outside the San Marcos Library polling place, allowing for voting assistance for anyone unable to enter the polling place on Nov. 2, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/harris-county-republican-voter-registration/The county plans to ID eligible voters and send them registration forms. GOP officials say it’s an end-run around state law.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 29 Aug 2024 12:25:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/harris-county-republican-voter-registration/Texas Republicans are once again raising questions over how Harris County, the state's most populous, runs elections.The Harris County Clerk’s Office Elections Department presentation at DeBakey High School Civics Club’s voter education conference in Houston on April 5, 2024.Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/27/greg-abbott-voter-rolls-texas/Federal and state law already required voter roll maintenance. Experts warn the governor’s framing of this routine process could be used to undermine trust in elections.By Juan Salinas II, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 27 Aug 2024 15:15:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/27/greg-abbott-voter-rolls-texas/Gov. Greg Abbott makes an economic development announcement in Austin on Mar. 1, 2024. The press conference took place in front of the Governor's Mansion.Gov. Greg Abbott makes an economic development announcement in Austin on Mar. 1, 2024. The press conference took place in front of the Governor's Mansion.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/26/texas-voter-upgrade-list/State election officials say a revamped database all Texas counties can use would allow them to better monitor and clean up voter lists. An upgrade is due next year.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneMon, 26 Aug 2024 20:23:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/26/texas-voter-upgrade-list/A voter registration box at the elections office in Nacogdoches on Oct. 3, 2022A voter registration box at the elections office in Nacogdoches on Oct. 3, 2022Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/23/harris-county-election-audit/An audit by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office found improved elections procedures, but the office is sending monitors because of past problems.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 23 Aug 2024 19:12:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/23/harris-county-election-audit/Harris County Elections Staff members sort ballot bags at the Elections Technology Center in northwest Houston on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.Harris County Elections Staff members sort ballot bags at the Elections Technology Center in northwest Houston on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/texas-voter-guide-2024-election/Election Day is Nov. 5. Here is everything you need to know about casting a ballot in Texas.By María Méndez and Yuriko Schumacher, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 21 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/texas-voter-guide-2024-election/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/16/voter-registration-challenges-texas/Conservative groups and individual activists have targeted tens of thousands of Texans over their eligibility. But state and federal protections are in place.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 16 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/16/voter-registration-challenges-texas/Voter registration applications hang in a holder inside of the elections office in Fredericksburg on Mar. 5, 2024Voter registration applications hang in a holder inside of the Elections Office in Fredericksburg on Mar. 5, 2024.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/02/texas-ballot-secrecy-numbering-lawsuit-laura-pressley/Laura Pressley claims she found an “algorithmic pattern” that links voters to their ballots. But she won’t make it public.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneFri, 02 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/02/texas-ballot-secrecy-numbering-lawsuit-laura-pressley/Laura Pressley and an illustration of public records from court filings.Laura Pressley and an illustration of public records from court filings.llustration by Elaine Cromie/Votebeat | Photo by Evan L’Roy/Texas Tribune | Public Recordshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/26/texas-ballot-secrecy-problems-election-transparency/The burden will fall on local officials to determine which records they’re obligated to release or redact.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 26 Jun 2024 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/26/texas-ballot-secrecy-problems-election-transparency/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/12/texas-ballot-secrecy-justice-department-voter-advocates/The request comes as state and local officials undermined ballot secrecy in their bids for election transparency.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 13 Jun 2024 15:39:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/12/texas-ballot-secrecy-justice-department-voter-advocates/People walk past a "Vote Here" sign outside of the Austin Oaks Church on Mar. 1, 2024. Early voting ends today for the primaries.People walk past a 'Vote Here' sign outside of the Austin Oaks Church on Mar. 1, 2024. Early voting ends today for the primaries.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/12/texas-county-wide-voting/More than 80% of the state’s registered voters can cast their ballot anywhere in the county on election day. Scrapping that option could lead to disenfranchisement, experts say.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 12 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/12/texas-county-wide-voting/A voter walks past an election sign on his way to vote at Cavazos Middle School in Lubbock on Nov. 8, 2022.A voter walks past an election sign on his way to vote at Cavazos Middle School in Lubbock on Nov. 8, 2022.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/06/texas-voting-ballot-secrecy-public-records-elections/The emergency guidance from the secretary of state comes after Votebeat and The Texas Tribune confirmed the choices some voters make can later be identified through legally available records.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 06 Jun 2024 13:55:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/06/texas-voting-ballot-secrecy-public-records-elections/A ballot is dropped in Austin in October 2020.A ballot is dropped in Austin in October, 2020.Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/texas-ballot-secrecy-election-audits/Rules and practices meant to promote transparency also create vulnerabilities for voters, lawmakers were told.By Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 30 May 2024 16:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/texas-ballot-secrecy-election-audits/Voters wait in line outside Cody Public Library in San Antonio during the evening hours of Election Day on Oct. 23, 2020.Voters wait in line outside Cody Public Library in San Antonio during the evening hours of Election Day on Oct. 23, 2020.Clint Datchuk for The Texas Tribune